The International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) recently held its 33rd Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Nearly 800 delegates – regulators, manufacturers, retailers, online marketplaces, testing labs and consumer advocates – gathered under the theme, “Safety: Community-Collaboration-Commitment.” Below are the key highlights.
Global regulator updates
Regulators from around the world shared updates on their current priorities and upcoming initiatives.
Health Canada gave a pre-recorded address reporting on its red tape review, spending reductions and upcoming regulatory changes. These include fragrance allergen disclosure requirements for cosmetics, proposed toy regulation amendments, consultations on furniture tip-overs and button batteries, and a notice of intent on proposed new requirements for lithium-ion batteries and consumer products that contain them.
A speaker from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provided an overview of US state-level activity, covering PFAS regulations, battery regulations and emerging bills to watch across multiple states.
Regulators from Brazil (INMETRO), Peru (INDECOPI), Chile (SERNAC) and El Salvador – all part of the Organisation of American States’ Consumer Safety and Health Network that comprises 21 active members – shared regional updates. Common themes included challenges with recall effectiveness (e.g., companies failing to sustain follow-up actions over time), manufacturers applying lower safety standards in Latin America than in other regions and the proliferation of unsafe products sold through ecommerce.
Brazil highlighted its use of mobile labs (including X-ray capabilities) and digital approval labels, as well as a dedicated office overseeing ecommerce platforms. Peru reported on recent regulatory changes requiring recalls to be published through mass media channels such as television, along with its cooperation with customs authorities to identify local suppliers and importers of internationally recalled products. Chile is developing a new interpretative circular on recalls to provide suppliers with greater certainty regarding the steps required following a recall notification. El Salvador presented its 2024 product safety reforms, including a 48-hour recall notification requirement and fines of up to $200,000 for violations.
The European Commission reported on plans to reinforce the European Union’s product compliance and market surveillance framework with proposals to revise the New Legislative Framework and Market Surveillance Regulation as part of the upcoming European Product Act (draft legislation expected in Q3 2026). The European Commission is also coordinating surveillance activities, including product testing across EU member states, and undertaking capacity-building initiatives to help national authorities better understand mental health risks. Studies on safety and circularity and on e-vulnerabilities are expected this year. The European Commission is also supporting United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in developing a handbook and training materials to implement the recent UN resolution on consumer product safety.
The UK Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) outlined its evolving priorities, focusing on new product technologies, new types of harm (including psychological harm or harm caused by digital security breaches) and a new sectoral approach as a regulator. It is developing a support offering for new and innovative businesses, including an innovative product advice center and regulatory sandboxes. A consultation on reforms under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act will be published soon – including ideas to clarify digital distribution responsibilities, explore new approaches to general product safety and introduce enhanced enforcement tools.
Industry keynotes: Trust and collaboration
Three industry leaders delivered keynotes. The first argued that competitors should never compete on safety, calling for safety IP to be open and for companies to share learnings. The second drew on past crisis experience to outline a response framework – plan, communicate, cooperate, fix, exit and feed learnings back – emphasizing that trust is ultimately what is at stake. The third shared her path from quality compliance to company president, encouraging curiosity, a willingness to work outside comfort zones and remembering that quality is everybody’s job.
Looking back and forward: The ‘Eras Tour’ of product safety
A plenary session traced the arc of US product safety from 1972 to the present, highlighting the creation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the shift toward voluntary standards and the landmark 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. The overarching message: Return to basics – collaboration, data, testing and certification – while embracing new tools.
Recalls: Practical frameworks
Two sessions focused on recalls. Key reminders included: Revisit prior risk assessments based on new information, consistently follow your processes, partner with cross-functional teams, don’t await final risk assessments, consider when to engage outside experts and periodically test your process. A separate session debunked five common recall myths, underscoring the value of upfront manufacturer-retailer discussions.
Extended producer responsibility (EPR)
A session unpacked the evolving US EPR landscape, covering requirements across seven states, baseline data collection and managing supplier data gaps, practical implementation steps, design impacts, enforcement risk and where EPR is heading.
AI in product safety
Artificial intelligence is already transforming how manufacturers, retailers and regulators work. Applications include computer vision on assembly lines, device telemetry analysis, multimodal analysis of warranty claims, customer support data and social media, as well as bespoke compliance-checking tools. The UK’s OPSS is focused on leveraging AI to drive efficiency gains – improving data gathering and analysis. The panel emphasized the importance of maintaining a human in the loop, with AI augmenting – not replacing – expert judgment.
Older adults: An overlooked group
A session highlighted older adults as an increasingly vulnerable and under-recognized group in product safety – not a niche concern, but a global-scale issue. Australia is undertaking a major project to close existing data gaps.
Consumer education and catalyzing change
Several sessions emphasized the importance of plain language, simple and consistent messaging, and the power of personal stories to educate consumers. Speakers also highlighted that cross-stakeholder collaboration enables the best possible education, engineering and evidence to drive systemic change.
Breakout sessions
More than 20 breakout sessions covered topics ranging from risk assessment harmonization and Internet of Things cybersecurity to right to repair and digital accessibility, plus an “Ask Us Anything” session moderated by Cooley’s Matt Howsare, where attendees drove the conversation.
What’s next?
Mark your calendars: The ICPHSO 2026 North America Product Safety Training Workshop is taking place June 18, 2026, and will be hosted by Lowe’s Corporation in Mooresville, North Carolina. The ICPHSO 2026 International Symposium is taking place September 9 and 10, 2026, in Brussels, held in conjunction with the European Commission’s International Product Safety Week, from September 7 – 10, 2026. Visit the ICPHSO website for further details.
ICPHSO is an international, neutral forum for product safety stakeholders to learn, network and share information. It typically hosts three types of events each year – an annual symposium in the US, an annual international symposium outside the US and regional training workshops based in North America. Cooley is a major sponsor of ICPHSO, and partner Rod Freeman serves as vice president on the ICPHSO executive board of directors.
